Untaxed vehicles have been taken off the streets in an operation between Medway Council, police and other agencies.

Officers from the council's environmental enforcement team, Kent Police and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) checked vehicles across Medway to ensure they had valid car tax.

Vehicles were also removed from private land owned by housing associations mhs homes and Moat Housing.

In total, 55 untaxed vehicles were removed from Medway’s streets on Saturday, which were taken to a car pound where they will stay until their owners pay a release fee and tax their vehicle.

The council’s enforcement team also issued five Fixed Penalty Notices to motorists who failed to produce the correct documentation for transporting trade waste in a similar operation last week.

Chief Inspector Des Keers from Kent Police said: “This action is about making the roads in Medway safer.

"Often cars that are untaxed are uninsured and in some cases not roadworthy.

"By taking these vehicles off the streets we are making a positive difference in the community.

”Some untaxed cars are left abandoned and they often attract the attention vandals or arsonists. This can give the impression that an area is a `no-go' zone and make people fearful.

”We are keen to make sure we remove as many untaxed cars as possible so that Medway residents can enjoy a better quality of life and clean safe streets.”

The enforcement day was part of a national initiative to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour.